Which horse bedding is right for you?

Is there anything more comforting than tucking our horses up in their stables with a deep, cosy bed?

Like humans, horses require a certain amount of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep in order to stay happy and healthy – roughly 30 minutes. Studies have shown that a thick, comfortable bed can encourage horses to lie down and get this deep sleep that they need.

During the winter months, or during periods of box rest, horses often spend more time stabled, so it’s important that they feel safe, relaxed and comfortable enough to lie down. So, which bedding should we choose for our horses to encourage this?

Different types of bedding for a horse

Below are the main types of horse bedding available, and the pros and cons for each.

Straw horse bedding

Studies have found that straw is the bedding of choice for horses because it provides a deep, warm and cushioned platform for horses to lie down. It is also the bedding of choice for foaling mares as, unlike shavings, straw won’t stick to the wet, newly-born foal.

Reasonably priced, relatively easy to muck out and readily available, straw is one of the more popular bedding choices for owners too – but it can also be dusty and isn’t the most absorbent bedding available.

Straw is also likely to be eaten by your horse. Especially those that are greedy or on a restricted diet.

Straw is a by-product of the grain industry and harvested from cereal grains including barley, oats, and wheat straw, which all have different properties:

• Barley straw often comes with prickly ears that can cause irritation
• Oat straw is the most absorbent, but also the tastiest to horses
• Wheat straw is comfortable and most easily available, but is also the dustiest
  

Straw is also fairly easy to compost and can be used as manure and spread back onto fields.

Scientific choice

A study entitled ‘The influence of bedding on the time horses spend recumbent’ showed that horses spent three times as long lying down in a straw bed compared to a bed of shavings, and that straw also offers foraging opportunities which can help to reduce boredom.

Another study, ‘The influence of shavings bed thickness on nocturnal recumbent behaviour in horses’, found that horses slept for longer on beds 10cm thick and for fewer hours on a bed 5cm thick, while ‘The effects of night light and bedding depth on equine sleep duration and memory consolidation’ found that horses prefer a 15cm-thick straw bed compared to a 5cm-thick straw bed.

Wood shavings

Another popular, although often more expensive option, is wood shavings.

When laid thickly, a shavings bed can provide a soft, comfortable surface for horses to rest and sleep. It also has a good absorbency factor, which helps to keep the stable (and your horse) clean.

There’s a wide variety of shavings products available to purchase at a range of prices, and they are mostly easily available. Being plastic-wrapped, they are fairly easy to store – although care must be taken not to pierce the bags and allow water to get in.

Some shavings can be quite dusty, so either proper ventilation is required in the stable to prevent respiratory issues, or you can opt for a variety that has been dust-extracted. These may be more expensive, but worth it in the long-run if it saves costly vet-related insurance claims. They’re also good for overweight horses as they are non-palatable.

Shavings are less prone to mould, but usually require more frequent replacement compared to straw.

Wood pellets for horse bedding

Wooden pellets have become a popular choice in the last few years due to their high absorbency levels and ease of use.

Made from compressed, heat-dried wood or sawdust, you simply lay them on the floor and add water, which breaks them down and makes them swell and expand to provide a soft, comfy bed. They are also generally dust-free, making wood pellets a great choice for horses with respiratory sensitivities or allergies.

Easy to compost, horse bedding pellets are also economical and easy to store because they usually come in small bags, and due to their absorbency, you require less bedding overall. Because they are easy to muck out, it means more time saved, less waste in general and a smaller muck heap. They are also non-palatable and great for horses on a diet.

Just be aware that they can be slippery when in pellet form.

Flax and hemp horse bedding

Available in wrapped bales that are easy to store, flax and hemp horse bedding materials are made from the chopped stems of flax and hemp plants.

These types of bedding have become popular options due to how eco-friendly they are, and the fact that they are biodegradable and considered a sustainable resource. Most horses avoid eating them, and they have a low dust content.

Lightweight, easy to work with and simple to muck out, flax and hemp horse bedding materials have a good absorbency rate. They also both compost quickly – though they can be more expensive.

Cardboard and paper bedding for horses

Made from shredded newspaper, magazines, cardboard and other unwanted printing matter, paper bedding for horses boasts properties that make it a good bedding for sleeping on. It’s also an economical choice if you can source it cheaply enough.

Paper is dust-free, fairly absorbent, not generally palatable, and relatively cheap – but it can also be prone to blowing around in the wind (a nightmare for sweeping up!).

Plus, when it gets wet, it can be heavy and ‘mulchy’. If you have a grey horse or one with white bits, the black ink on the newspaper can smudge. While it can compost well, it’s not as popular as composted straw, and can attract mould in wet and humid environments.

Choosing bedding for a horse: useful checklist

When considering bedding for a horse, it’s worth consider the following points:

Comfort

Which type of bedding will ensure your horses get a quality night’s sleep?

Ease of cleaning

As noted, some beddings are easier to muck out than others, which is worth factoring into your decision.

Absorption

Bedding that absorbs urine is healthier and cleaner than those that aren’t absorbent.

Dust factor

If your horse has an allergy to dust, you’ll want to avoid excessively dusty bedding that can cause irritation and respiratory problems.

Palatability

For horses on a diet, you’ll want to avoid beddings that are tasty to horses, as these might contribute to further unwanted weight gain.

Composting

Consider how you will dispose of your bedding, and whether you’d prefer to build a muck heap and/or spread it on your fields.

Cost and availability

Stabled horses require a lot of clean bed through the winter months, so whichever type of bedding you choose needs to be affordable.